The Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2010

Whereas it is expedient further to amend the SindhLocalGovernment Ordinance, 2001, in the manner hereinafter appearing; It is hereby enacted as follows: 1. (i) This Act may be called the SindhLocalGovernment (Amendment) Act, 2010 . (ii) It extends to the whole of Sindh . (3) It shall come into force at once. 2. In the SindhLocalGovernment Ordinance, 2001-(i) for section 153, the following shall be substituted: 153. Elections on party basis. The LocalGovernment Elections shall be held on party basis: Provided that individual candidates can also contest the elections independently. (ii) after section 179, the following new section shall be added: 179-A. Conduct of Elections: - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance, for the purpose of holding next elections to the Local Governments, all the Local Governments viz, the District Governments, City District Government , Taluka Municipal Administrations, Town Municipal Administrations, Union Administrations, the Zila Councils, Taluka Councils, Town Councils and Union Councils in the Province shall stand dissolved on the date as may be notified by the Government . (2) On dissolution of Local Governments under sub-section (i) all the Nazims and Naib Nazims of all the local Governments, viz, District Governments, City District Government , Taluka Municipal Administrations, Town Municipal Administrations, Union Administrations and Members of the Councils shall cease to hold their respective offices. (3) The Government shall appoint civil servants as Administrators who shall perform the functions and exercise the powers of the Nazims of respective Local Governments, till the newly elected Nazims take oath of their offices. (4) The Government may from time to time issue directions to the Administrators in the performance of their function or exercise of powers under sub-section (3). (5) (a) On dissolution of the Local Governments and Councils, the Government shall within 30 days request the Chief Election Commissioner for holding the elections of Local Governments in a time frame not exceeding 120 days from date of appointment of Administrators. (b) The elections of the Local Governments shall be conducted under this amendment or new enactment. In case any new law is not passed, the elections shall be conducted under this amendment. In any case, the Government shall ensure elections within 120 days within the scope of clause (a) above. (c) The Election Commission shall announce the schedule as per clauses (a) and (b) above and the election schedule so announced shall be governed by the Election Commission Rules. Statement of objects and reasons Whereas the four years tenure of the Local Governments has already expired and for holding free, fair and transparent elections on party and individual basis, it is expedient to dissolve the Local Governments and appoint civil servants as Administrators, by making suitable amendment in the SindhLocalGovernment Ordinance, 2001.